Framatome has been contracted to upgrade the reactor protection system (RPS) of the Gösgen Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) in Switzerland.
The 1,060MW plant is operated by the Swiss utility Kernkraftwerk Gösgen-Däniken. Swiss nuclear utility Alpiq also owns a 40% share of the plant. The Gösgen pressurised water reactor was connected to the grid in 1979 and the reactor protection system is designed to power down reactors safely in case of any deviations.
Framatome will be responsible for upgrading the entire RPS using its digital instrumentation and control (I&C) platform called Teleperm XS. Key functions will also be realised with a diverse hardwired back-up system.
Framatome senior executive vice-president Frédéric Lelièvre said: “This contract marks another important milestone in the long-lasting cooperation between Gösgen NPP and Framatome.
“It is yet another example showing how, over the years, we have managed the transformation from analogue to digital technology successfully together.”
Installation and commissioning of the new RPS are set to take place during the plant’s 2022 outage.
The modernisation project is expected to further improve the safety of the plant and support long-term operation, as well as protect future investments.
Framatome has previously successfully updated the Gösgen NPP’s four emergency diesel generators and the entire instrumentation, control and electrical systems, as well as performed the digital modernisation of its reactor control and limitation.
Last September, Framatome secured a modernisation contract from energy company EDF.
